Bobsleigh, Skeleton, and Luge in 2005

Bobsleigh

During the 2004–05 bobsleigh season, three drivers dominated the circuit—Switzerland’s Martin Annen, Canadian Pierre Lueders, and Aleksandr Zubkov of Russia. In two-man racing Annen drove consistently throughout the World Cup season, winning three golds and the two-man overall title. He was unable to capture the title at the world championships, held in Calgary, Alta., however, and finished third behind Lueders and second-place André Lange of Germany. In four-man action Zubkov medaled in six of seven races; he failed to medal only on the track built for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The Russian claimed the World Cup overall four-man title, but he failed in his quest to win the four-man race at the world championships in Calgary, where he finished second to Lange. Lueders earned third place.

In women’s bobsleigh Germany dominated, medaling in every race on the circuit and taking the top three spots for the overall World Cup season title. Sandra Prokoff Kiriasis led the charge for the Germans, winning five races and the overall title, as well as the gold medal at the world championships. Cathleen Martini, at the helm of Germany 3, finished the World Cup season in second place overall, with Susi-Lisa Erdmann, driving Germany 2, taking third place. At the world championships British driver Nicola Minichiello and American Shauna Rohbock finished in second and third, respectively.

Skeleton

American Noelle Pikus-Pace, in her second season on the World Cup skeleton circuit, surprised the world by winning the overall title for the 2004–05 season. Pikus-Pace collected three gold, one silver, and one bronze medal on the tour and finished the season with a silver medal at the world championships in Calgary. Maya Pedersen of Switzerland was second in the overall World Cup standings but won gold in Calgary. Michelle Kelly of Canada took third place at the world championships.

In men’s skeleton Jeff Pain of Canada started and ended the season on top of the podium. Pain earned one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals on his way to the World Cup overall title. Pain, who lived in Calgary, also slid to the gold medal in the world championships on his home track. American Chris Soule had a strong season and finished second in the overall standings. In third place for the overall title was Canadian Duff Gibson, who also earned bronze at the world championships, behind silver medalist Gregor Stähli of Switzerland.

Luge

Christian Oberstolz and Patric Gruber of Italy captured the 2004–05 overall World Cup luge doubles title. A win in the eighth race of the season gave them enough total points for the title; the final race, scheduled to be held on the 2006 Olympic track in Turin, was canceled for safety concerns. Perennial leaders Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch of Germany, sidelined for most of the season, returned to win two of the final three World Cup races and the silver medal at the 2005 world championships in Park City, Utah, behind their teammates André Florschütz and Torsten Wustlich. Americans Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin finished third in Park City.

Italy’s Armin Zöggeler raced to his fifth world championship victory, but the surprise men’s singles World Cup winner was Russian Albert Demtschenko, who earned gold in half the season’s races to capture the overall title. Georg Hackl and David Möller of Germany finished silver and bronze, respectively, in both the world championships and the World Cup standings.

Germans dominated women’s luge. Sylke Otto added another world championship title to her collection, with Barbara Niedernhuber and Anke Wischnewski in second and third, respectively. In the World Cup standings, Niedernhuber captured gold, Silke Kraushaar won the silver, and Otto took bronze.

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